Microsoft calls for transparency over security requests

The US attorney general is reviewing
a letter from Microsoft asking that it
be allowed to publish more detail
about US National Security Agency
requests for user data.
The software giant suggests a gagging
order is unconstitutional.
Leaked documents indicate the company
has provided access to emails, Skype
video calls and uploaded documents.
Microsoft has said that it only provides
"specific data" after checking the legality
of the requests.
It added that: "Numerous documents are
now in the public domain.
"As a result, there is no longer a
compelling government interest in
stopping those of us with knowledge
from sharing more information,
especially when this information is likely
to help allay public concerns."
Constitution at risk
The letter marks Microsoft's latest effort
to make secret security requests more
open.
In it, the company's general counsel,
Bradford Smith, asks US Attorney
General Eric Holder to intervene because
it believes "the constitution itself is
suffering".
The company says government agencies
are taking too long to agree how much
information it can release.
In the meantime, it says, media reports
have "misinterpreted" its disclosure
practices.
"In my opinion, these issues are
languishing amidst discussions among
multiple parts of the government, the
constitution itself is suffering, and it will
take the personal involvement of you or
the president to set things right," Mr
Smith added.
Currently, Microsoft - along with other
tech giants such as Google and Facebook
- is limited in what it can say publicly
about requests for information from the
National Security Agency (NSA).
It is unable to provide a breakout figure
for how many requests it receives from
the agency, and can only aggregate the
number with requests from other law
enforcement agencies.
Strong denials
In June Microsoft said it had received
between 6,000 and 7,000 such requests
over the last six months of 2012.
Last month it filed a motion in a secret
court asking for permission to release
detail as to where the different requests
came from. It says it is still waiting for a
response.
Earlier this week Microsoft also strongly
denied claims it provided the NSA special
access to customers' unencrypted emails
and Skype video calls under the agency's
Prism surveillance scheme.
The company said it did not give the US
government "unfettered" access to its
servers, only handing over information
about specific accounts after reviewing
the legality of requests.
The Prism system was exposed last
month in documents supplied by former
NSA contractor Edward Snowden.